Mute fob musical instruments



W. E. BARNES.

MUTE FOR MUSICAL msmumms.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28. I919.

Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

MMGMMM UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

WILLIAM E. BARNES, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

MUTE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed April 28, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know-n that I, WILLIAM E. BARNES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in thecounty of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Mutes for Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to mutes for use with wind instruments such as cornets, trombones, etc.

It is a well known fact among musicians, and others familiar with the subject, that mutes commonly used alter or disturb the itch of the instrument and have a tendency when the mute is constructed of metal of introducing a metallic quality into the tone;

and in muflling the tone and robbing it of its richness and brilliancy.

It is the aim of this invention to a mute that will soften the tone to the de sired degree and at the same time'preserve its original pitch and smooth quality and keep it free from any metallic sound.

A further object is to produce a mute at a comparatively low cost, possessing in addition to the foregoing advantages lightness, simplicity and durability.

To these ends I construct my mute of a hard but preferably non-metallic substance in thin sheet form shaped after the style of the frustum of a cone, and I close the larger, and olter, end with a vibratory diaphragm also of non-metallic material. Further, I provide the body of the mute with spacers of cork or the like that are compressed against the Wall of the instrument when the mute is wed ed into the bell thereof, all of which will e readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawing .and from the following detailed description.

In the drawing, Figure l is a perspective view of the mute; Fig. 2 is a section through the bell of a wind instrument having my improved mute inserted therein, and Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Flg. 2.

1 is the body of the mute which is of a frusto-conical shape and constructed preferably of what is known to the trade as vulcanized paper. The smaller end of the body is open, and the larger end is closed by a diaphragm 2 which I prefer at the present time to make of what is known as pressed board, a cardboard composition that is hard and resilient. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

produce Patented Dec. 16, 1919.

Serial No."293,242.

end of the body 1. In order-to make the parts fit accurately, I bevel the outer surface of the annulus at an angle corresponding to the taper of the wall of the body.

Near the smaller end ofthe body I glue or otherwise secure to it a number, preferably 3, of spacers or ribs 5. These may best be made of compressible material such as cork. When the mute is so constructed, it maybe forced into the hell 6 of a wind instrument in the position shown in Fig. 2, with the spacers or ribs 5 compressed against the wall of the instrument, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3.

I find that a mute constructed as herein described and of the materials mentioned, softens or modifies the volume of a tone to the desired extent without disturbing its pitch or altering its quality. It seems that the vibrating diaphragm 2 transmits to the external air the sound waves projected against it through the smaller end of the mute, and produces a tone corresponding to the original one in quality though materially reduced ,in volume. Thus it will be seen that my improved mute possesses marked advantages over 1ts more expansive yet no more durable predecessors.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell, and a vibrating iiiaphragm closing the larger end of the shel 2. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell of thin, hard, non-metallic substance, and a diaphragm closing the larger end of the shell.

3. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell, a diaphragm closing the larger end of the shell, and

4. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell of thin, hard, DlOIl-HlQtfllllC substance, a diaphragm closing the larger end of the shell, and spacers of compressible material carried bythe shell, as and for the purpose specified.

5. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell, an annulus occupying the larger end of the shell, a diaphragm carried by the annulus, and means for spacing the shell from the Wall of an instrument.

6-. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell, an annulus having its periphery beveled to correspond to the taper of the Wall of the shell and arranged to be fitted Within the larger end of the shell, and a diaphragm having its periphery attached to the inner side of the annulus, and means forv spacing the shell from the wall of an instrument, as and for 15 the purpose set forth.

7. A mute of the character set forth comprising a frusto-conical shell, 'an annulus glued within the larger end of the shell, a diaphragm having its the annulus, and means or spacing the shell from the Wall of an instrument, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM E. BARNES.

eriphery glued to 20 

